Trace-carrier.



0. S. PITTENGER.

TRACE CARRIER.

' ARPLIGATION FILED APR.1Z.1909.

Patented June 7, 1910.

UNITE STES ATE FI I TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7, 1910.

Application filed April 12, 1909. Serial No. 489,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLO S. PITTENGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crab ()rchard, in the county of Johnson, State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Carriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trace carriers, more particularly to devices of this character employed for supporting the free ends of traces when the horses are unhitched, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved device viewed from above. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from beneath. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The improved device comprises an oblong base plate or frame 10 having an intermediate recess, the central portion 11 of the recess being relatively deep and the side portions 1213 of the recess being relatively shallow. The shallow portions are designed to bear over the body portion 14 of the back strap and the deeper portion of the recess designed to bear over the narrower upper portion 15 of the back strap, the back strap being of the usual construction.

Formed at the ends of the base 10 are strap loops l617, the aperture through the strap loops communicating with the transverse recess as shown.

Rising from the base member 10 near one edge and likewise near its ends are inwardly directed hooks 18-19, designed to receive the cock-eyes of the traces, and rising from the plate 10 at its opposite edge is a guard device 20, preferably in the form of a frame constructed with openings to reduce the weight. Rising from the base 10 between the terminals of the hooks 18-19 is a stop stud 21 against which the inner ends of the cock-eyes are designed to bear in event of their being moved inwardly inadvertently to prevent premature displacement.

The loops 1617 are designed to receive the hip strap a portion of which is represented at 22, the hip strap passing through the usual loops formed between the narrower upper aortion 15 and the lower wider portion 1 1 o the back strap.

To attach the improved device to a harness, the hip strap is detached and the frame 10 located over the back strap with the narrower upper portion thereof within the relatively deep portion 11 of the recess and the wider portion 14 of the back strap within the shallow portions 12-43 of the recess. The hip strap is then thrust through the loops 1617 and likewise through the loop bet-ween the back strap members. By this means the device is secured in position upon the back strap, as will be obvious. The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured from one single piece of metal preferably malleable iron, japanned, plated, galvanized, or otherwise protected.

The improved device cloes not interfere with the ordinary operations of the harness and does not detract from its appearance, and will not therefore be detrimental to the harness to which it is attached. The improved device is thus attachable upon the harness without material structural changes therein, and does not require riveting, sewing or other fastening devices, while at the same time it is firmly secured in place and will not become disarranged when in use.

The plate 10 extends without the openings or break from end to end so that arelatively large bearing area is produced against which the cock-eyes bear when applied to the hooks 1819. The relatively soft harness members 1522 are thus effectually protected from contact with said cocloeyes, while the member 20- eflectually prevents the displacement of the cock-eyes when the harness is removed from the horses and suspended from the hooks in the stable, the member 20 also effectually preventing the cock-eyes from coming in contact with the harness members when the device is in suspended position.

hat is claimed, is

A buckle comprising a base formed with a continuous upper face and with a longitudinal alinelnent with the pin, the termitudinal opening and a transverse opening nals of the hooks being spaced from the pin. 10

communicating with the longitudinal open- In testimony whereof, I aifix my signaing, a guard member rising from said base ture, in presence of two witnesses.

at one side edge, a pin rising from said base ORLO S. PITTENGER. intermediate the ends thereof at the other Witnesses:

side edge, and inwardly and downwardly C. L. Ro'rHELL,

directed hooks carried by said base in longi- T. R. RICHARDSON. 

